Deflector-type spray nozzle

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a deflector type spray nozzle for mounting on a pipe to obtain a flat trapezoidal shaped spray pattern. The spray nozzle is made entirely of a strong durable plastic resistant to corrosion and abrasion. It is equipped with a self-locating interchangeable bushing which may be easily changed to obtain different flow rates by means of a different size orifice and which fits in a simple straight hole in the pipe without auxiliary sealing means. A single size U-bolt and single size deflector assembly may be used for pipe sizes of 1 inch to 3 inches inclusive.

United States Patent [72] lnventors Roderick S. Galloway Challont;Albert B. Luecke, Jr., Cheltenham, both of, Pa.

[21] Appl. No. 794,510

[22] Filed .Ian. 28, 1969 [45] Patented July 6, 1971 [73] Assignee FMCCorporation San Jose, Calif.

I54 DEFLECTOll-TYPE sriuw NOZZLE 13 Claims, 12 Drawing Figs.

Primary Examiner- Lloyd L. King Attorneys- F. W. Anderson and C. E.Tripp ABSTRACT: This invention relates to a deflector type spray nozzlefor mounting on a pipe to obtain a flat trapezoidal shaped spraypattern. The spray nozzle ismade entirely of a strong durable plasticresistant to corrosion and abrasion. It is equipped with a self-locatinginterchangeable bushing which may be easily changed to obtain difierentflow rates by means of a different size orifice and which fits in asimple straight hole in the pipe without auxiliary sealing means. Asingle size U-bolt and single size deflector assembly may be used forpipe sizes of 1 inch to 3 inches inclusive.

PATENTEDJUL 619m 3,591,091

SHEH 1 BF 2 INVENTORS RODERICK s. GALLO WAY ALBERT B. LUECKE, JP.

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PATENTEDJUL sum 3,591,091 SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTORS 88 RODERICK S. GALLOWAYeyglmm ATTY'S ALBERT B. LUECKEJR.

DEFLECTOR-TYPE SPRAY NOZZLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention These spray nozzles find wide application in refuse cleaningsprays for traveling water intake screens, for the sprays on vibratingscreens, for cleaning vegetables and fruits, and in the rinsing andcleaning of materials in motion or at rest. They are also used forimpregnating loose material with liquids, diffusing liquids, as in roadsprinkling, or removing oil or scum in settling basins.

2. Description of the Prior Art Some nozzles of this general type havepreviously beenprovided with a tapered pipe thread which requiresthreading of the pipe on which it is mounted and'which is subject todeterioration through corrosion in the relatively thin wall thickness ofsmall pipe sizes. These nozzles usually are fitted with a fixed sizeorifice so that different units must be stocked to provide for differentflow rates and, accordingly, the inventory required to be maintained isrelatively large. Other types require orifice holes to be drilled in thepipe, and these holes are subject to enlargement through wear andcorrosion. Special separate orifice bushings have been used with theabove nozzles but these are usually of hardened stainless steel and arerelatively expensive. The nozzle assemblies of the above type haveheretofore also been made to fit only one particular pipe size, and theprovision of assemblies to fit these different sizes increases theinventory of parts to be maintained. Still another type requires a largetapered hole to be reamed in the pipe to obtain sealing, and the orificeis integral with the nozzle assembly. The latter then have to be stockedwith different orifice sizes so the inventory problem is again present.The above types of nozzles are generally made in bronze for corros ionresistance or in other special hardenable alloys where abrasion is aproblem so the material is relatively expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention covers a fluid spray nozzle forproducing a wide relatively thin spray pattern which is adaptable tomounting on several sizes of pipe and has a replaceable self-locatingbushing which may have different sizes of orifice to produce differentflow rates. A single body and fastening means may be I used under anumber of different situations and the desired capacity may be obtainedfrom a choice of several small bushings with different orifice sizes.

One object of this invention is to provide a single nozzle assemblywhich fits several sizes of pipe and which has an interchangeableorifice bushing so that only the bushings have to be stocked indifferent orifice sizes. Since this is a relatively in which one surfaceof the orifice is always located so the stream of fluid passing throughthe orifice flows over the deflector without interruption regardlessof'the size of this orifice and is so arranged it can only be assembledin the proper manner to accomplish this.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings whichform a part of this specification and in which like reference charactersdesignate like parts in all of the views:

FIG. I is a side elevational view of the spray nozzle assembled on asection of a pipe manifold;

I 7 FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the nozzle assembly shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the nozzle assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section through the centerline of the mounting member theorifice bushing and the deflector taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the orifice bushing taken looking towardits frustoconical end;

FIG. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 1 cutting through thedeflector just above the top surface of the mounting member and showingthe orifice bushing in place;

FIG. 7 is an end view from its frustoconical end of the orifice bushing;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the orifice bushing;

FIG. 9 is a partial bottom view of the mounting member showing theaperture for the orifice bushing with no bushing in place;

FIG. 10 is a section of an embodiment of the orifice bushing with asingle tapering converging fluid passageway;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional elevation of another embodiment of theorifice bushing which is provided with a tapering converging sectionfollowed by a tapering diverging section in the fluid passageway; and

FIG. 12 is top view of the orifice bushing illustrating the constantwall thickness with various orifice diameters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the embodiment of thisinvention shown in FIGS. 1-3 the spray nozzle 20 is mounted on amanifold 21 which has a hole 22 through one wall. This manifold is mostcommonly made up of a piece of pipe which may be made of steel, brass,plastic or other suitable materials. It may be assembled from variouspipe fittings connecting to a source of fluid under pressure, as from apump, into a tee-shaped header of a length necessary to cover the widthof the area to be cleaned by the sprays. Since each nozzle will producea spray sheet of a width approximately equal to the distance from thehole in the manifold to the object being sprayed, the nozzles may bespaced on the manifold at distances which will give an overlap of thespray pattern on the object to be cleaned. All parts of this spraynozzle are made of an acetal type plastic, such as Delrin or Celecon, toprovide a unit suitably resistant to salt water atmospheres, mostsolvents, and many chemicals.

The spray nozzle 20, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is made up of anapproximately rectangular mounting member 31 containing three apertureson its longitudinal axis 32. At the approximate midpoint of this axisthere is a central aperture 33, and the with of the mounting member isenlarged at this point, as shown in FIG. 6, to provide sufficientmaterial thickness around the central aperture 33. Also on thislongitudinal axis, and approximately equidistant from the centralaperture, are two slotted apertures 35 extending through the thicknessof the mounting member 31.

As shown in FIG. 4 the central aperture 33 may be considered to comprisean upper cylindrical aperture 33a that extends part way through thethickness of the mounting member 31 and a lower recess 33b that is ofenlarged diameter, approximately 127 percent of the diameter of theaperture 33a, and has a depth of about 19 percent of the total thicknessof member 31. As shown in FIG. 9, the recess 33b is so formed that achordal segment 39 is retained in the mounting member. The chord isperpendicular to the longitudinal axis 32 and is located at a distancefrom the center of aperture 33 just slightly larger than the radius ofthe diameter of hole 33. The resulting cross-sectional configuration ofrecess 33b is noncircular because of the chordal segment 39 and itprovides a positive alignment for an orifice bushing 40 that is disposedin the aperture 33.

Orifice bushing 40 as shown in FIGS. 5, 7 8L 8, is essentiallycylindrical in shape and its length is approximately 1% times thethickness of the mounting member 31. It has a longitudinal cylindricalaperture 41 extending therethrough and the diameter of this aperture maybe varied depending on the flow capacity desired. The inner end portion42 has an outside diameter that is approximately 5 percent greater thanthe thickness of the mounting member 31 it is cylindrical in shape; andits length is about five-sixth of the mounting members thickness. Theinner end portion 42 is followed by a flanged section 43 having athickness of about one-sixth of the mounting member's thickness and anouter diameter of about 127 percent of the diameter of the inner endportion. A chordal segment is removed from this flange approximatelytangent to the inner end cylindrical portion 42 as seen in FIG. 7. Theouter end portion 45 of the bushing extends beyond the flanged sectionapproximately 50 percent of the combined length of the inner end portion42 and the flanged section 43. It is also slightly tapered so that atits outer end its diameter is about 91 percent of that of the inner endportion 42. The longitudinal aperture 41 is not necessarily concentricwith the inner cylindrical end portion 42. Depending upon the diameterDX of the orifice aperture 41, the actual centerline of the orifice isso located that the wall thickness T," on a diameter in line with thelongitudinal axis 32 of the mounting member, is always constant as shownin FIG. 12. The chordal section 44 of the flange is also perpendicularto longitudinal axis 32. This orifice bushing 40 can thus only beassembled into the central aperture 33 of mounting member 31 so thechordal section 44 of the flanged section (FIG. 7) fits against the flatwall of the chordal segment of the recess 33 (Fig. 9). The frustoconicalouter end portion 45 projects outwardly from the mounting member 31 asshown in FIG. 4.

A curved deflector 50 is formed integrally with the mounting member 31and is approximately trapezoidal in outline. It projects approximatelytangentially from the top surface of the mounting member 31 andperpendicular to the longitudinal axis 32. The deflectors width at itsjuncture with the mounting member, as shown in FIG. 2, is approximatelythat of the width of the mounting member 31 and, at its outer edge 52,its width is approximately 4% times that of the mounting member, beingsymmetrical about a plane P passing through the longitudinal axis 32.The deflector as shown in FIG. 4 is arcuate in longitudinal section,having a radius R" of its inner surface 53 about 4% times the thicknessof the mounting member. The deflector is so positioned that at the topof the mounting member 31, the inner surface 53 is tangent to theorifice 41 at the longitudinal axis 32 so that the fluid moving upwardlyalong the inner surface of the longitudinal orifice 41 will flowsmoothly onto the deflector. The outer edge 52 of the deflector islocated approximately 3.42 times the thickness of the mounting member 31vertically above the top surface of the member about 1.6 times itsthickness.

The spray nozzle is assembled on the manifold 21 by pushing theprojecting frustoconical outer end portion 45 of the orifice bushinginto a straight predrilled hole 22 of the proper size in the manifold. AU-shaped bolt 60 is then placed around the manifold 21 so that itsthreaded projecting legs 61 fit up through the slotted apertures 35 inthe mounting member as shown in FIG.'4. A nut 62 is then placed on eachthreaded leg 61 and tightened securely to hold the nozzle firmly on themanifold and to obtain a fluidtight fit of the bushing 40 in the hole 22in the manifold. The threaded projecting legs 61 of the -U-shaped bolt60 are circular in cross section, but the curved portions between theseprojecting legs are generally rectangular in cross section, as indicatedin FIG. 2, to permit them to flex more easily around the various sizemanifolds on which they may be assembled.

While the most common orifice bushing 40 may have a straight cylindricalhole 41, as shown in FIG. 4, the rate of discharge may be increased bythe alternate internal constructions shown in the embodiments of FIGS.and 11. In FIG. 10, the inlet end 71 of orifice bushing 70, has aconverging section 72 gradually varying in cross section from its inletend toward a very short cylindrical section 73 which is of the nominalorifice diameter. In one illustrative example of this construction, abushing having a nominal 5/16-inch diameter orifice would have thelongitudinal axis of this orifice at section 73 offset from the axis ofits outer end by three thirtysecond inch. A conical tapering convergingsection having an included angle of 7 would result in an inlet diameterd! of approximately 0.44 inches and a cylindrical discharge sectionone-sixteenth inch long having a 5/1 6-inch diameter d2 where theoverall length of the bushing is 1% inch and its cylindrical inner endouter diameter d3 is approximately 0.785 inch. The minimum thickness atthe inner end 72 is about 0.14 inch.

In FIG. 11 the inlet end 86 of orifice bushing 85 has a convergingsection gradually varying in cross section from its enlarged inlet to avery short cylindrical section 87 having the nominal orifice diameter atapproximately one-fourth to onethird of its length followed then by adiverging section enlarging towards its opposite end. In oneillustrative example of this construction, a bushing having a nominal 5/16-inch diameter orifice, the same outside configuration and the sameminimum wall thickness of about 0.14 inch at its inner end as thebushing of the previous example, would have the longitudinal axis A ofthis 5/16-inch orifice offset from the axis A1 of its outer diameter bythree thirty-second inch and tilted about 3% relative to axis A1. Aconical tapering converging section 88 having an included angle of about13 would result in an inlet diameter of about 0.40 inch for a length ofthree-eighth inch to the inner cylindrical orifice section 87 whichwould have a length of one-sixteenth inch and a diameter offive-sixteenth inch. From the inner cylindrical section 87 thepassageway would again gradually enlarge toward its discharge end 89where its diameter would be approximately 0.40 inch and the includedangle of the conical diverging section would be about 7.

It is to be noted that while conical sections were referred to in theabove examples similar constructions covering converging and/ordiverging sections in which the cross sections vary according to someexponential value resulting in smooth curved sections in lieu of thestraight tapering sections shown are equally disclosed in thisinvention.

In one embodiment of this, invention, the mounting member 31 isseven-eighth inch wide by three-fourth inch thick. The

' slotted holes 35 are eleven thirty-second inch wide and as shown inFIG. 6 the centers Y of one slot are thirteen-sixteenth inch long withthe distance 2X between the end radius center of one slot and theadjacent inner end radius of the next slot is 2% inch. The deflector isthirteen-sixteenth inchwide at the mounting member and 3% inch at itsouter end with the inner radius R of the arcuate deflector being 3 17/64inch and its outer radius Rl" of the stiffening ribs is 3% inch. Thedischarge edge 52 of the deflector is 2 9/16 inch above the top surfaceof the mounting member and projects 1% inch horizontally from themidpoint of the mounting member. The normal range of pipe sizes on whichthis nozzle is used is 1 inch to 3 inches inclusive and orificediameters of three-sixteenth inch to one-half inch are provided.

It is to be understood that the form of this invention is to be taken asa preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape,size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a fluid spray nozzle for mounting over a hole in the conduit, thecombination comprising:

a. a mounting member having an aperture,

b. a curved deflector secured to said mounting member and having a flatwall portion adjacent said aperture,

c. means providing a positioning surface on said mounting member at'apredetermined distance from theflat wall portion of said deflector,

d. an orifice bushing having a second positioning surface in engagementwith the positioning surface of said mounting member and a bore with awall portion disposed at said predetermined distance from said secondpositioning surface whereby fluid passing along the wall of said borewill flow smoothly onto the flat wall of said deflector, and

e. fastening means for securing the mounting member and curved deflectorwith its assembled bushing over the hole in the conduit.

2. A spray nozzle as in claim 1, wherein the orifice bushing has anaperture extending through its longitudinal axis so located on atransverse axis that the minimum wall thickness is maintained constantas the bushing aperture size increases.

3. A spray nozzle as in claim 2, wherein the orifice bushing hasself-orienting means and the mounting member has mating orienting meansin said aperture for the bushing so that it can only be assembled in thecorrect position.

4. A spray nozzle as in claim 3, wherein the orifice bushing has anexternal central flange section with a circular segment removed and thebottom end of the aperture in the mounting member has an enlarged matingpocket to receive the flanged portion of the bushing and toautomatically orient the bushing properly.

5. A spray nozzle as in claim 4, wherein the chord remaining on thecentral flange section of the orifice bushing is perpendicular to atransverse centerline through the bushing aperture and adjacent to theminimum wall thickness of the bushing.

6. A spray nozzle as in claim 2 wherein the orifice bushing aperture isfurther defined as cylindrical in shape.

7. A spray nozzle as in claim 2, wherein the longitudinal aperture ofthe orifice bushing is so formed that the inner end is cylindrical andthe outer end is a frustum of a cone having its larger diameter at theouter end of the bushing.

8. A spray nozzle as in claim 2, wherein the longitudinal aperture ofthe orifice bushing has a converging and then a diverging passageway ofvarying cross-sectional area in the direction of flow.

9. A fluid spray nozzle for mounting over an opening in a fluiddischarge member comprising in combination:

a. a mounting member having an aperture therein,

b. a deflector secured to said mounting member in a position to overlapsaid aperture a predetermined amount, said deflector having a deflectingsurface extending from said mounting member,

c. a replaceable bushing having a bore therethrough, said bushinginsertable into said aperture and having a wall portion equal inthickness to the predetermined amount of said overlap to align the innersurface of the bore with the deflecting surface of said deflector plate,and

d. means for securing said mounting member to said fluid dischargemember with one end of said bushing in said opening of the fluiddischarge member.

10. The fluid spray nozzle of claim 9, in which said bushing is made ofa plastic material.

11. The fluid spray nozzle of claim 10 is which said fluid dischargemember is a conduit and in which said securing means for said mountingmember is a flexible U-shaped clamp having legs extending through themounting member.

12. A spray nozzle as in claim 1, wherein the orifice bushing is made ofa nonmetallic semirigid material so that the frustoconical end of thebushing will yield and conform to the hole in the conduit to effect thefluidtight seal.

13. A spray nozzle as in claim 1, wherein the fastening means comprisesa generally U-shaped member, having threaded, extended legs and havingan arcuate section connecting said legs which is thinner than the legsto encircle the conduit to conform readily to the size thereof, saidlegs extending through'the mounting member, and a nut on each threadedleg to secure the assembly to the manifold.

@253? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Dated July6, 1.971

Patent No. 3, 591 ,091

I t RODERICK S GALLOWAY ET AL It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

' Column 2, line 47 delete "with" and insert width 1 Column 3, line 46after "member" insert and extends out from the mid-point of the mountingmember Signed and sealed this 27th day of June 1972.

(SEAL) Attes't:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents

1. In a fluid spray nozzle for mounting over a hole in the conduit, thecombination comprising: a. a mounting member having an aperture, b. acurved deflector secured to said mounting member and having a flat wallportion adjacent said aperture, c. means providing a positioning surfaceon said mounting member at a predetermined distance from the flat wallportion of said deflector, d. an orifice bushing having a secondpositioning surface in engagement with the positioning surface of saidmounting member and a bore with a wall portion disposed at saidpredetermined distance from said second positioning surface wherebyfluid passing along the wall of said bore will flow smoothly onto theflat wall of said deflector, and e. fastening means for securing themounting member and curved deflector with its assembled bushing over thehole in the conduit.
 2. A spray nozzle as in claim 1, wherein theorifice bushing has an aperture extending through its longitudinal axisso located on a transverse axis that the minimum wall thickness ismaintained constant as the bushing aperture size increases.
 3. A spraynozzle as in claim 2, wherein the orifice bushing has self-orientingmeans and the mounting member has mating orienting means in saidaperture for the bushing so that it can only be assembled in the correctposition.
 4. A spray nozzle as in claim 3, wherein the orifice bushinghas an external central flange section with a circular segment removedand the bottom end of the aperture in the mounting member has anenlarged mating pocket to receive the flanged portion of the bushing andto automatically orient the bushing properly.
 5. A spray nozzle as inclaim 4, wherein the chord remaining on the central flange section ofthe orifice bushing is perpendicular to a transverse centerline throughthe bushing aperture and adjacent to the minimum wall thickness of thebushing.
 6. A spray nozzle as in claim 2 wherein the orifice bushingaperture is further defined as cylindrical in shape.
 7. A spray nozzleas in claim 2, wherein the longitudinal aperture of the orifice bushingis so formed that the inner end is cylindrical and the outer end is afrustum of a cone having its larger diameter at the outer end of thebushing.
 8. A spray nozzle as in claim 2, wherein the longitudinalaperture of the orifice bushing has a converging and then a divergingpassageway of varying cross-sectional area in the direction of flow. 9.A fluid spray nozzle for mounting over an opening in a fluid dischargemember comprising in combination: a. a mounting member having anaperture therein, b. a deflector secured to said mounting member in aposition to overlap said aperture a predetermined amount, said deflectorhaving a deflecTing surface extending from said mounting member, c. areplaceable bushing having a bore therethrough, said bushing insertableinto said aperture and having a wall portion equal in thickness to thepredetermined amount of said overlap to align the inner surface of thebore with the deflecting surface of said deflector plate, and d. meansfor securing said mounting member to said fluid discharge member withone end of said bushing in said opening of the fluid discharge member.10. The fluid spray nozzle of claim 9, in which said bushing is made ofa plastic material.
 11. The fluid spray nozzle of claim 10 is which saidfluid discharge member is a conduit and in which said securing means forsaid mounting member is a flexible U-shaped clamp having legs extendingthrough the mounting member.
 12. A spray nozzle as in claim 1, whereinthe orifice bushing is made of a nonmetallic semirigid material so thatthe frustoconical end of the bushing will yield and conform to the holein the conduit to effect the fluidtight seal.
 13. A spray nozzle as inclaim 1, wherein the fastening means comprises a generally U-shapedmember, having threaded, extended legs and having an arcuate sectionconnecting said legs which is thinner than the legs to encircle theconduit to conform readily to the size thereof, said legs extendingthrough the mounting member, and a nut on each threaded leg to securethe assembly to the manifold.